Australia minister accused of slur against Pacific leaders

Australia minister accused of slur against Pacific leaders

Both the ABC and Fairfax say Melissa Price told Anote Tong - a nominee for the Nobel Prize - that she had her chequebook ready when they met at a Canberra restaurant on Tuesday.

Mr Tong was in Australia to discuss climate change, and was dining with a Labor senator and other human rights and environment advocates when he was introduced to Ms Price.

"For the Pacific, it is always about the cash. I have my chequebook here. How much do you want?" Ms Price is reported as saying.

A spokesperson for Ms Price said the account was completely untrue.